diff --git a/game/btl4main.cpp b/game/btl4main.cpp
index cd962d5..a811dfc 100644
--- a/game/btl4main.cpp
+++ b/game/btl4main.cpp
@@ -461,11 +461,17 @@ int WINAPI WinMain(HINSTANCE hInstance, HINSTANCE hPrevInstance, LPSTR lpCmdLine
 				// BT_FE_JOIN (join.bat): the callsign/mech request rides env
 				// into the relaunched pod; L4NET's SEAT_REQUEST carries it to
 				// the relay, which writes it into the session egg.  Args = the
-				// universal join contract (join.bat's own OPERATOR.EGG/1501).
+				// universal join contract (OPERATOR.EGG + port 1501); the
+				// operator console overrides the port per LOCAL instance via
+				// BT_FE_JOINPORT (two instances on one box can't share -net).
 				SetEnvironmentVariableA("BT_FE_EGG", NULL);
 				SetEnvironmentVariableA("BT_CALLSIGN", fe_spec.joinCallsign);
 				SetEnvironmentVariableA("BT_MECH", fe_spec.joinVehicle);
-				strcpy(fe_arguments, "-egg OPERATOR.EGG -net 1501 -platform glass");
+				{
+					const char *join_port = getenv("BT_FE_JOINPORT");
+					sprintf(fe_arguments, "-egg OPERATOR.EGG -net %d -platform glass",
+						join_port != NULL ? atoi(join_port) : 1501);
+				}
 				break;
 #ifdef BT_STEAM
 			case BTFeLaunchJoinSteam:
diff --git a/tools/btoperator.py b/tools/btoperator.py
index 13a9c63..b6fa725 100644
--- a/tools/btoperator.py
+++ b/tools/btoperator.py
@@ -725,21 +725,31 @@ class Operator(QMainWindow):
                 env.insert("BT_DEV_GAUGES", "1")
             if self.f_inside.isChecked():
                 env.insert("BT_START_INSIDE", "1")
+            args = ["-egg", os.path.basename(self.egg_path)
+                    if os.path.dirname(self.egg_path) == CONTENT
+                    else self.egg_path]
             if relay:
+                # WALK-UP FLOW (2026-07-22): a relay-mode local instance goes
+                # through the JOIN-GAME menu exactly like a join.bat player --
+                # callsign + mech picked in the menu, seat ASSIGNED by the
+                # relay (BT_SELF pinning is gone: it skipped the seat request
+                # that carries the choice).  Zero-arg launch = the menu; it
+                # relaunches itself with -egg OPERATOR.EGG -net <BT_FE_JOINPORT>
+                # (distinct per instance -- two -net listeners can't share a
+                # port on one box).
                 env.insert("BT_RELAY", "127.0.0.1:%d" % self.f_port.value())
-                env.insert("BT_SELF", tag)
-                net_port = 1501
+                env.insert("BT_FE_JOIN", "1")
+                env.insert("BT_FE_JOINPORT", str(1501 + 100 * r))
+                args = []
             else:
                 host, _, port = tag.rpartition(":")
                 net_port = int(port) - 1
+                args += ["-net", str(net_port)]
             env.insert("BT_LOG", "operator_%d.log" % (r + 1))
             proc = QProcess(self)
             proc.setWorkingDirectory(CONTENT)
             proc.setProcessEnvironment(env)
-            proc.start(exe, ["-egg", os.path.basename(self.egg_path)
-                             if os.path.dirname(self.egg_path) == CONTENT
-                             else self.egg_path,
-                             "-net", str(net_port)])
+            proc.start(exe, args)
             self.game_procs.append(proc)
             launched += 1
         self.log.appendPlainText("launched %d local instance(s)" % launched)